Coin operated dispenser



5 Sheets-Sheet l y Filed Jan. 26, 1953 48 n( LA 34 JN- l f\ f rl Herbert F. Page MHk INVENTOR.

BYV WWW 19M@ Aug. 30, 1955 H. F. PAGEV COIN OPERATED DISPENSER Filed Jan. 26,-1953 Fig. 6

5 sheets-'sheet 2 Fig. 7

F H 92 9- 26 F g. /0

DMVNF Wmv Herbert Page JNVENToR.

Ammey:

Aug. 30, 1955 H. F. PAGE COIN OPERATED DISPENSER Filed Jan. 26, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Herbert F. Page INVEN TOR.

to Walter E. White, Toledo, Ohio Application January 26, 1953serisi No, asados 1o claims. (ci. 194471) 'f The present invention relates to coin operated dispensers and more particularly relates to what may be termed a throw-away dispenser.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser of the above described character formed vfrom a single blank of sheet material which maybe adapted to vend an infinite variety of articles, whicharticl'eslmay be either rigid or exible and ofa variety of shapesy and textures.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a coin operated vending apparatus having a novelE magazine construction for holding and guiding the articles to be vended or dispensed from the'machine vwithinthe dispensing chamber of the machine.

Yet another object of the invention is to form the article holding magazine of the dispensing apparatus the same blank of material utilized' to form the housing for the apparatus.

A still further object of the inventionl is to provide `a throw-away dispenser that may be eciently loadedf'as the dispenser is formed from the blank and whichI is inexpensive enough to be discarded upon emptying of:

the article holding magazine.

Another feature, ancillary to the lastmentioned object', is to provide such an apparatus which is coin-'operated' and fromwhich the coins may be quickly and easily' removed prior to discarding the empty dispenser.

The last object of the invention to be mentioned-v specically is the provision of a throw-awayI dispenser that may be easily and quicklywall mounted and-removed.

These, together with various ancillaryl objectsand features which will later become apparent as the follow-ing description proceeds, are at-ta ined by this invention, 'a preferred embodiment of which isshown, by wayl f example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front view of the, blank forming the dispenser prior to the folding of the blank; A

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the blank in its partially folded condition showing the formation of the housing from the blank; l

Figure 3 is a front view of the dispenser with .the front wall of the same being broken away t o show the construction of the article holding magazine and the manner in which the dispenser is operated; a

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional` view of the dispenser taken substantially along section line 4 4l of' Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top, cross-sectional view of the dispenser taken substantially along section line 5--5' of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of thedispenser mounted on a wall;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view; showing the mounting of the rear wall of the dispenser on a` walli mounting plate;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an article particularly adapted to be dispensed or vended fromlhe dispenser;

Figure 9` is a perspective view of: ant article ejectingmember that may be used with the dispenser;

United States Patent joi'ning this. wall tothe end 2,116,411 i Patented Aus.'-` 30 195.5

5f Figure 10 'is anlenlargeddetail view, section,{ dis. closing a modilied form4 offopenirg.v th? ...dispenser magazine forf dispensing another. ,sized articles'.- an'd, 'Vj Figure 1I is a view'simil" z trto`that'ofl FigurelQv-shintirfy ing'v yet another lnodiiiei"A OPfPllll in theimagali'ne OI dispensing still other articles therefrom.. l Reference willnot be had. to the accompanying draw: ings in detail whe'r-fein'likeV reference numerals are utilized tol designate' similarparts. throughout .various views; j

"Referring tirst to'Figure" I,` thev jbl'ank fn'linghthe dispensing" or vending* device of the" present invention isdesignated in its entirety bythe numeral I0. "working' from the bottom of thetigure upwardly, it will be, seen that the blank is provided vwith a plurality ot'wealgening or scorelines 12 dividing the same into a frontend wan-14, front'waii 1s; rear endw'ali is, rea'r'jv'valli 2.11, and

a magazine 2 2. Further, 'additional weal'len'ingfor score lnesf'zjt are formed atthe topand bottom ledges'ofjthe front' rear walls 16 and 20; respectiveiy, to'provide :op flaps 26 ma zal and: barium end naps soana'a'z whichflaps form top4 and bot-tour wallsforthe dispenser, respectively. f

.n As will be noted in Figure 1l the magazine forming strip 21 isy of a length equal to the, front andrearfwalls )6i-andi 20, respectively, but is off substantiallygfeat'er width than either of these walls. ""ln addition, the, body or the magazine forming strip 22`is formed with a plu? ralityf of longitudinally extending, transversely' spaced score lines 34 with portions of the strip adjacent alternate score-lines 34 being slitted as at3 6' to form' arti'clefsupport andi guide means; As; will be nt.'lted', `tl1`eV Slitted portions 36 form'longitudinall-y spaced,: trans :ersely eX- tending'rows'v on the? magazine forming' 'strip 22;', i Q

'Each' slittedf'portion 36 consists of a Vesh'aped slit 38 having its apex on a score line 34 withv slits 4Q parallel to, the score` -li'ne 34 on both sides thereof joining the 1egs...ot the v-snapedl s1-i-t ss; The last memianed" stia 40 form guide' trackstorganarticl'e supported Within-the' magazine in ay manner presently to be described;

:The rear end! wall 185 is provided" with a plurality of' diagpnalliyffdisposedi, longitudinal-lyl spaced*y coinfslbtsl 4Z aligned-with the transverse rows ofslitted portions 36 the front end wal-l 14 andaportion,"o'f'fthe'frontv wall '-16y are provided 'with a pluralityA of' weakened", diskshaped portions 44 also l.aligned with the transverse rows' of slitted portions`36 i'nl the magazine` forming s'trip'Z.

free` longitudinal edges of' the front end wall,1`4j andv the'magaz-ine forming strip Z2# are; formed'w'ith'spacedr tabs: or lugs 46 and 48, respectively, projecting therefrom'while the rear wall 20' adjacent the'y score line '1I wall 18v isprovided with ai pluralityy ofl'ongitudinally` spaced slots v50A and; the magazine forming strip Z2 adjacen-t its juncture with the rear walli 20:` isV formed; witha plurality off similar slots, 52.k The topA and bottom end-` aps- 261 and 30, respectively, are. formed with struck out tabs ory lugs .54j While, the topv and bottom end` iiaps 28? and 32, respectively,Y arev formedvwith' slots 56.

Referring; now toy Figure 2; the manner 'off assembly` or folding of the blank Itl'to'form the complete dispenser or vending device 5,8 (Figure 6) may be readily observed.A

As shown in this. figure, the front andrear walls 1'6 and 20- are:` folded toward" one another aboutv their julletutes,` to therear end wall 18. The magazine formingr Strip Z1 i'sgfolded about its juncture Ato the rear wall' 20 to apo-` sition overlying4 the' rear wall 20; between the front' wall 161' and the rear wall` 20. The magazine forming, strip haben folded along its; score lines '3'4 back andfortli upon itself@ to f or'm ay zig-zag shape with the score lines 34formingridg`es abutting the front andreanwalls '16' and A20,respectively'. Tabs 48 on the' free ed'ge' olf-ith'e" aregfthe'n in"registrywith` thev slotsA Str in the rear wall 20 and are consequently pressed therethroughn to rigidly attach the strip 22 in its folded position. Then, the tabs 46 formed on the free edge of the front end wall l1.4arelikewise in-registry with theslots 52formed on lthe magazine lforming strip 22 and are pressed` therethrough to'fform a housing of substantially*rectangular shape. To complete the housing, the top and bottom ilaps 28 and 32 are foldedy over and the other top and bottom aps 26 and 30 are also folded over in overlymg relation to the aps 28 and 32, and the tabs 54 are pressed through the slots 56 to complete the housing. Referring now to Figures 3-5, it will be seen that the slittedv portions 36 formed on the ridges created by the foldingvalong the score lines 34 all lie against the inner surface of'the front wall 16 of the housing. The` V- shaped slits' 38 are pressed inwardly at their apices toward the rear w'all 20 to form wedge-shaped openings 60.`v The longitudinal slits 40 on opposite. sides of the score lines 34 form guide` tracks for an article which is supported within the cut out portions 60.

"Noting particularly'Figure 8, a disposable toothbrush is shown utilizing the handle portion which is specifically adapted for use in the magazine 22 of the dispenser. AS will be noted, the brush is designated in its entirety by the numeral 62 and comprises essentially an elonn gated, grid strip of material which may be of metal, wood,v or any other suitable and well known material. Thev handle -64 is L-shaped in cross-section `and includes a first` leg 66 depending from a second horizontal leg 68. At one end of the horizontal leg 68 the brush head 70 is fixed while at the other end of the horizontal leg 68 is an upstanding projection 72, the outer surface of which is serrated as at 74. The lower flange or depending leg 66 of the handle 64 is provided with wedgeshaped cut outs or notches in its lower edge.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that the horizontal legs 68 of the handles rest upon the lower edge of the triangular cut out 60 while the vertically depending leg or llange 66 rides in the slits 40. The upstanding projection 72 at the rear end of the horizontal angeor leg 68 is disposed adjacent a coin slot 42.

To'veject an article 62 from the dispenser, a coin is insertedthrough a coin slot 42 into abutting engagement with the serrated surface 74 of the upstanding projection 72 and the coin is then pressed into the housing forcing lthe head portion 70 of the brush through -a weakened disk 44 in the front and front end wall of the housing.

` ln this connection, it is to be noted that the coin s1o`ts`42 are slightly widened at their central portions and are a length slightly less than the diameter of a c oin to be inserted thereinto. The reason for this is thats ordinarily the pressure of the paper, cardboard or other bendable material forming the housing would ordinarily tend lto bind the sides of the coin, or rather, the faces of the coin, against the sides of the slot and prevent thev coin from dropping after the same has been pressed into the housing. With the present set-up, wherein the central portion of the slot is made wider and the length of the slot slightly less than the diameter of the coin provides an element of certainty that the coin will not drop and must be pressed at least one half of its diameterthrough a coin slot before the upper and lower edges of the slot will release the coin so that the same may drop to the bottom of the box or housing.

In connection with the movement of the coin into the housing and the corresponding movement of the handle 64 of the brush, after the coin has been pressed into the housing and dropped into the bottom of the box, the notches 74 formed in the lower flange 66 of the handle 6 4 seat at the bases of the vertical slots 40 to prevent further movement of the brush. This is to prevent accidents by virtue of the entire brush slipping through the front end wall of the housing upon insertion of the coin through the rear end wall of the housing. With this present arrangement, when the head of the brush projects through the front end wall of the housing, it is merely necessary for the operator to tinish pullingthe brush out of the dispenser by hand.

With this particular magazine arrangement for supporting the article, such as the brush 62, it will be seen that the present dispenser is enabled to utilize an accordion pleated magazine in such a manner that a very great number of vertically stacked articles may be placed in an exceedingly small area and in a manner which is practical, simple and exceedingly inexpensive of production.

It should be noted in this connection that to further rigidify the magazine strip 22 within the housing, tabs are struck out from the score lines 34 alternating from those score lines 34 from which the slitted portions 36 are formed. These tabs are designated by the numeral 76 and register with corresponding slits 78 in the rear wall 20 of the housing, and are pressed therethrough to prevent buckling of the magazine strip 22 as articles are dispensed therefrom.

To facilitate mounting the dispenser S8 on a wall or the like, the rear wall 20 of the dispenser is formed with a plurality ofZ-shaped slits 80 terminating in key-shaped openings 82. vA backing plate or mounting plate 84 having a plurality of pegs 86 projecting from the surface thereof is mounted upon a wall and the rear wall 2"!) of the dispenser S8 is pressed against the pegs 86 so that the pegs enterthe keyways 82. Then, the dispenser is moved vertically downwardly, then to the left and then again vertically downwardly to lock the rear wall 20 on the pegs 86'and against the surface of the mounting plate 84. l

It is to be noted that the present dispenser can handle both soft articles and so-called hard or rigid articles such as the brush shown in the preferred embodiment. When handling hard articles or soft articles of various contours, the` cut out portions in the score lines 34, as illustrated at 36, may be varied to form various shapes as those shown in Figures l0 and ll and designated by the numerals 86 and 88. Thus, the opening 86 may be' utilized for a pack of cigarettes while the opening 88 ,could be utilized for a tube dispenser such as glue, toothpaste, etc. When such articles are lto be dispensed from the machine or apparatus 58, an ejector rod is provided which is substantially of the same shape as that shown in the handle of the brush 62. Thus, the same is shown as being an angle member having a iirst horizontal ange 90 and a depending flange 92 with the horizontal ange 90 having an upwardly extending tab or lug 94 at the rear end thereof for engagementwith a coin While the depending flange or lower flange 92 is provided with a pair of cut outs or notches 9K6 which are adapted to seat in the guide slots 98 and 100, respectively, of the various shaped openings 86 and 88, respectively, shown in Figures 10 and 1l upon release of the coin pressure on the article to be dispensed.

As shown in Figure 6, the front wall of the housing may be provided with a plurality of window openings 102 so that the merchandise carried by the magazine may be readily observed.

When the device is empty and the magazine exhausted, a weakened portion is provided at the lower corner of the rear wall 20, illustrated by the numeral 104, from which coins may be extracted from the device. Since this coin pocket will not be exposed until the housing is torn,l from the pegs 86 on the wall plate 84, little danger of theft is likely. Further, the diagonal disposition of the coin slots 42 correctly guides the coins in their downwardmovement through the housing and prevents lodging of the coins between the articles to be dispensed.

From the foregoing description, the construction and u operation of the devices are believed to be readily apparent and further description is, consequently, believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after careful perusal of the foregoing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described. But, all suitable modifications may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. An article dispenser comprising a housing including front and rear walls and side walls, an article supporting magazine within said housing, said magazine comprising a zig-zag shaped strip of material having spaced ridges abutting said front and rear walls, said strip having a plurality of spaced rows of article guiding and supporting means formed on the ridges abutting said front wall, weakened portions on one of said side walls aligned with said supporting means for dispensing an article from the housing and coin slots on the other of said side walls aligned with said guide means for insertion of a coin for pressing articles through said weakened portions.

2. An article dispenser comprising a housing including front and rear walls and side walls, an article supporting magazine within said housing, said magazine comprising a zig-zag shaped strip of material having spaced ridges abutting said front and rear walls, said strip having a plurality of spaced rows of article guiding and supporting means formed on the ridges abutting said front wall, means attaching the ridges abutting said rear wall thereto, weakened portions on one of said side walls aligned with said supporting means for dispensing an article from the housing and coin slots on the other of said side walls aligned with said guide means for insertion of a coin for pressing articles through said weakened portions.

3. An article dispenser comprising a housing including front and rear walls and side walls, an article supporting magazine within said housing, said magazine comprising a zig-zag shaped strip of material having spaced ridges abutting said front and rear walls, said strip having a plurality of spaced rows of article guiding and supporting means formed on the ridges abutting said front wall, weakened portions on one of said side walls aligned with said supporting means for dispensing an article from the housing and coin slots on the other of said side walls aligned with said guide means for insertion of a coin for pressing articles through said weakened portions, said rear wall being slitted to facilitate mounting of the dispenser on a support.

4. An article dispenser comprising a housing including front and rear walls and side walls, an article supporting magazine within said housing, said magazine comprising a zig-zag shaped strip of material having spaced ridges abutting said front and rear walls, said strip having a plurality of spaced rows of article guiding and supporting means formed on the ridges abutting said front wall, weakened portions on one of said side walls aligned with said supporting means for dispensing an article from the housing and coin slots on the other of said side walls aligned with said guide means for insertion of a coin for pressing articles through said weakened portions, a backing plate for said dispenser having projecting lugs thereon, said rear wall having locking slits engaging said plate to mount the housing thereon.

5. An article dispenser comprising a housing including front and rear walls and side walls, an article supporting magazine within said housing, said magazine comprising a zig-zag shaped strip of material having spaced ridges abutting said front and rear walls, said strip having a plurality of spaced rows of article guiding and supporting means formed on the ridges abutting said front wall, weakened portions on one of said side walls aligned with said supporting means for dispensing an article from the housing and coin slots on the other of said side walls aligned with said guide means for insertion of a coin for pressing articles through said weakened portions, said housing being rectangular and further including top and bottom walls, the ridges of said strip extending vertically between said top and bottom walls.

6. A throw-away dispenser formed from a substantially rectangular blank of sheet material, said blank having score lines thereonl dividing the same into a front end wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a rear end wall and a magazine forming strip, tlaps formed at the top and bottom edges of said front and rear walls constituting top and bottom walls respectively, said magazine forming strip having a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending score lines thereon and being of substantially greater Width than said front and rear walls, portions of said magazine strip adjacent alternate score lines being slitted to form article supports, said slitted portions forming longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rows, said rear end wall having diagonally disposed, longitudinally spaced coin slots therein aligned with said transvese rows and said front end wall having weakened portions thereon aligned with said transverse rows.

7. A throw-away dispenser formed from a substantially rectangular blank of sheet material, said blank having score lines thereon dividing the same into a front end wall, a front wall, a rear end wall, a rear wall and a magazine forming strip, flaps formed at the top and bottom edges of said front and rear walls constituting top and bottom walls respectively, said magazine forming strip having a plurality of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending score lines thereon and being of substantially greater width than said front and rear walls, said magazine strip being folded along said score lines to a zig-zag shape with adjacent score lines abutting the inner surfaces of said front and rear walls respectively, portions of said magazine strip adjacent alternate score lines being slitted to form article supports and guide means, said slitted portions forming longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rows, said front and rear end walls having weakened portions and coin slots therein respectively aligned with said transversely extending rows whereby insertion of a coin through one of said slots presses an article through one of said weakened portions.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said slitted portions each consist of a V-shaped slit having its apex on a score line and slits parallel to said score line on both sides thereof joining the legs of said V-shaped slit to form guide tracks.

9. A disposable article dispenser comprising a housing including front, rear and end walls, an article supporting'magazine within said housing for supporting articles in superposed relation within said housing, one of said end walls having weakened portions thereon in alignment with said supporting means for dispensing articles from the housing, the other of said end walls having coin slots therein aligned with said supporting means for the insertion of coins to press articles through said weakened portions.

lO. An article dispenser comprising a housing including front, rear and end walls, an article holding magazine within said housing, said magazine including article supporting means for slidably supporting articles in superposed relation within said housing, one of said end walls having article ejection perforations therein aligned with said article supporting means, the other of said end walls having coin openings therein aligned with said article supporting means for the insertion of coins to press articles through the ejection perforations.

Reterences Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 888,026 Moore May 19, 1908 1,370,525 Eisenkraft Mar. 8, 1921 2,020,870 Benoit Nov. 12, 1935 

